Average salary in Indiana

The Hoosier State is known for its affordable cost of living, with a ranking of 9th lowest in the United States according to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center. Nevertheless, it can be helpful to establish what the financial landscape looks like for those who live in Indiana or are considering a move.

The earning potential available in Indiana is an incentive for many to explore what the state has to offer. But which cities and counties offer the highest average salaries?

Average salary in Indiana by city

City living is often more expensive than living in more rural areas, but it’s also where the money is. Indiana’s own cities can vary massively in average salary; cities like Carmel and Fishers command well into six figures, while Gary’s average sits below $30,000.

Average earnings by city—or any other geographical metric—is just one way of calculating wealth, and certainly shouldn’t be the only way you look at your own earning potential in a given place. It doesn’t take into account the type of jobs that people do to earn above or below this average bracket, and omits any consideration for the number of people living in a household. However, it’s certainly one way of establishing which place offers good earning opportunities.

The US Census Bureau’s latest American Community Survey has calculated the average earnings for the 10 largest cities in Indiana, which you can find ranked by size below.

Average salary in Indiana by county

Reviewing average salaries in Indiana by city is not necessarily an adequate metric for average salaries across the state, since it’s entirely urban focused. A good idea is to weigh these figures up against the average salary in Indiana by county, as this will take areas outside the main cities into account and offer a broader idea of salary ranges.

The same survey from the US Census Bureau gives further insight this way, with the average household income calculated for each county.

Highest paying jobs in Indiana

There’s another weighty factor that will influence how much you earn if you live in Indiana: your job type. Average salaries for various sectors and job roles can vary massively across the state, so it’s absolutely something to consider when looking at salaries by location.

Zippia Learn has calculated a comprehensive list of annual salaries by occupation area, which you can also find below.

Frequently asked questions about salaries in Indiana

What is the average salary in Indiana by age
Alongside location and occupation, salaries in Indiana are also dependent on age, since more senior workers will be paid more. Then, when they retire, their income will dip again as they will rely on pensions and other forms of set income.

The Census Bureau data finds that householders under 25 have a median household income of $41,741; householders aged 24 to 44 years old have a median income of $67,507; those aged 45 to 64 years old have a median income of $75,505; and those 65 and older have a median income of $49,783.

What is a ‘good’ salary in Indiana?
The median income in Indiana is $57,603. Defining ‘good’ relies on all sorts of variable factors and these should be taken into account. For example, $100,000 is a higher salary than the state average but may be relatively low in some areas with a higher cost of living or in certain high-skilled occupations.

What is the average salary in Indiana by hour?
If Americans work an average of 1,801 hours per year—at 37.5 hours a week—then the average hourly salary in Indiana is $31.97.

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